A COUPLE'S idyllic holiday in Sri Lanka nearly ended in tragedy when they were caught up in the terrifying effects of the Indian Ocean tsunami.

Robert Salad and his partner Marie Scott were enjoying a Christmas and New Year break in the resort of Kalutura when their hotel was hit by the full force of a terrifying tidal wave.

And Mr Salad, 64, needed an emergency operation after the skin was stripped from his leg as he struggled to keep afloat in the waves which engulfed their ground-floor hotel room.

He suffered his terrible injuries when he was struck by the wooden door of a fisherman's hut as the water rose to chest height around him.

It was only the quick thinking of a brave hotel worker which saved Mr Salad, of Sandy Lane, Runcorn, as he slipped below the surface of the water.

Later, as he travelled to hospital, Mr Salad realised that the plucky employee had suffered similar injuries.

The wave hit the Tangerine Beach Hotel at about 9.30am on Boxing Day as hotel guests rose after a Christmas Day party.

Ms Scott was the first to spot the impending disaster as she sat on the veranda reading.

She saw the wave coming in and hotel workers and guests on the beach fleeing. Once inside the hotel, she managed to climb to a higher floor, but Mr Salad was caught by a second wave which flooded the room.

He said: 'When the first wave hit, it flooded the room to about an inch in depth and I was mildly amused. However, I had no idea what was coming next. I was filming with my camcorder through the French windows as I saw the wave getting nearer.

'I thought it was about 15ft high but then I realised we were on a hill and it was nearer 30ft.

'When the water hit, I was still holding on to the camera. I tried to wade towards Marie but I felt an excruciating pain in my legs and collapsed under the surface. I don't know what I would have done if the lad from the hotel hadn't rescued me.'

Mr Salad was taken to a hospital but had to wait eight hours in boiling temperatures before he could be operated on.

He discharged himself and moved into another hotel with Ms Scott, but they were evacuated to the capital Colombo when emergency power failed.

Mr Salad spent the remainder of his stay recovering from his ordeal before returning home in a wheelchair. But this week he received some good news when doctors at Halton Hospital assured him his legs were healing well and a skin graft would probably be unnecessary.

He said: 'I was in agony but it was all put into perspective when we moved to Colombo and I saw the devastation.

'I would urge anyone to travel to Sri Lanka. The people are so friendly and they need tourists' money now more than ever.'